Last night, after a two-month dispute, the "Islamic Councils Elections Central Supervisory Board," declared as null and void the votes by the top five candidates in Tehran who belong to Khatami's faction, Abdollah Nouri, Saeed Hajjarian, Mohammad Atrianfar, Ibrahim Asgharzadeh and Ahmad Hakimi-pour.

It introduced new persons as members of the Tehran's city council who are essentially from Khamenei's faction. The action by the Central Supervisory Board represents a new counter-attack by Khamenei and his faction against Khatami's faction.

The extent to which the propaganda campaign by a number of Western circles about Khatami's victory in the "Islamic Councils" elections and their investment in Khatami's faction is unfounded and removed from reality, is once again laid bare.

The elimination of Khatami's men from the "Islamic Councils" in Tehran, simultaneous with the upcoming impeachment proceedings against the Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance, the arrest and conviction of a number of pro-Khatami candidates and the upholding of the conviction of Tehran's former Mayor, reflect an unprecedented escalation of the clerical regime's internal feuding after the councils' elections.

In the resolution of its full session earlier in April, the National Council of Resistance announced that "owing to the acute political crisis and lack of any political solutions, two years into Khatami's presidency, a definite and violent showdown between the regime's various factions looms prior to the Presidential elections in May 2001."

The resolution also noted that "the current phase must be declared as the phase to overthrow the regime. This is particularly the case as the unraveling of the regime after a troika leadership emerged, has further activated the organized Resistance's social base which in conjunction with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, has sounded the death knells for the regime."
 
 

Dominant Faction's Erosive War Against Khatami, Le Monde, April 23

" Be aware that a storm is on the way in Iran. In just a few days, Khatami's friends have suffered several blows. If Khatami does not launch any counter-offensive against these attacks, the danger exists that at least for a while - may be until next parliamentary elections which they supposedly wanted to dominate - the enthusiasm (of his faction) would dampen".

The daily Zan (woman) owned by Rafsanjani's doughtier was closed down. Three of Khatami's close allies, Mohajerani, Khadivar and Karbaschi, have come under attack one after the other. And Majlis finally grabbed the control of daily Hamshahri from the former Mayor of Tehran".

Are conservatives, who through Khamenei's mandates are still controlling key organizations such as the Parliament, the judiciary system, Army, and security forces, are taking revenge? " What is left is to find out when and how Khatami would fulfill his words".
 
 

Frequent Suicides During New Year Feast in Tehran Due to Socioeconomic Conditions, Iran Zamin Weekly, April 20

During the Iranian New Year Feasts, Nowrooz, several people committed suicide and set themselves afire.

According to the state-controlled Etella'at on April 7, a 32 year-old man jumped off the roof of a workshop in south Tehran. Another 32 year-old man hanged himself in a soccer field.

Also, a 28 year old man set himself afire in his home. A 42 year-old woman killed herself by overdosing. The body of a 65 year-old man who had committed suicide was found in his house. An 18 year-old girl killed herself because of family problems.
 
 

Another Victim of "Chain of Political Assassinations", State-Controlled Daily Arya, April 11

Unconfirmed rumors indicate that colonel Khanlar Hedayati, whose body was found last year, is another victim of the chain of assassinations. He was killed viciously and his body was left hanging"

He was a pro-Mossadeq [the late pro-democracy Iranian premier during Shah's time, whose government was removed in coup de'ta by Shah's emissaries] figure.

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